Taking a break from the split, Paes and Bhupathi win Asiad doubles gold

This, weeks after they’d split, with barely concealed acrimony, for the second time.

Could this, one wondered, be the re-start of a beautiful relationship? There had been reports that Paes — who’s been feeling the pinch much more than his partner since the split — wants to get back together again.

But Bhupathi’s father Krishna poured cold water on such speculation: ‘‘Such a question should not arise. We have to first stop romanticising the whole issue. They are two professionals who are talented enough to be World No.1 individually; if they’ve decided to separate, so be it,’’ he said.

The country, he added, wouldn’t suffer. ‘‘They’ve won so many laurels together and are ready to do so in the future, so there shouldn’t be any complaints from anywhere.’’

Still, today’s win was something special. ‘‘This is a proud moment in my life, I will cherish it. At the start of the week, if somebody had said I’d win a gold and a bronze, I would not have believed it,’’ said Paes, whose other medal came in the mixed doubles with Sania Mirza. ‘‘I had a bad ankle injury here while practicing and it was looking very difficult. This victory will remain very special.’’

Said Bhupathi: ‘‘It always feels great to play for the country. We knew we had a chance for the gold and that’s why we played together.’’

So relaxed was Leander after the match that he held a mini press conference for the Indian media right on the court. He obliged scores of children and volunteers with autographs and when Mahesh was playing the mixed double final, he answered each and every question.

Which raises one more question: Where do they go from here? For the answer, a cryptic quote from Bhupathi Sr (also the Indian coach): ‘‘If one doesn’t want to be seen with his wife, one cannot be forced to do it.’’

(With Sandeep Dwivedi in New Delhi)